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Micron agreed to pay Netlist $600 million in scheduled patent-license fees over five years—not as a single settlement check. Under agreements signed October 5, 2026, Micron will pay $30 million per quarter for 20 quarters, from Q4 2026 through Q3 2031. The deal also releases the pending proceedings identified in the agreements.
How Micron will pay the $600 million
Netlist’s SEC-filed Form 8-K and its announcement describe a quarterly payment schedule, rather than an immediate $600 million payment.
| Term | Agreement detail |
|---|---|
| Quarterly license fee | $30 million per calendar quarter |
| Number of payments | 20 quarters |
| Schedule | Q4 2026 through Q3 2031 |
| Total scheduled license fees | $600 million across the five-year term |
The schedule establishes the amounts due under the agreement; it does not by itself establish that future payments have been collected. Netlist’s filing also notes collection risk in its forward-looking-statement discussion.
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The Patent License Agreement is worldwide and covers Netlist’s entire worldwide patent portfolio for five years. Netlist’s announcement identifies server DIMMs and High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) technologies as areas addressed by patents in that portfolio.
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- Boosts System Performance: 32GB DDR5 RAM laptop memory kit (2x16GB) that operates at 5600MHz, 5200MHz, or 4800MHz to improve multitasking and system responsiveness for smoother performance
- Accelerated gaming performance: Every millisecond gained in fast-paced gameplay counts—power through heavy workloads and benefit from versatile downclocking and higher frame rates
- Optimized DDR5 compatibility: Best for 12th Gen Intel Core and AMD Ryzen 7000 Series processors — Intel XMP 3.0 and AMD EXPO also supported on the same RAM module
- Trusted Micron Quality: Backed by 42 years of memory expertise, this DDR5 RAM is rigorously tested at both component and module levels, ensuring top performance and reliability
- ECC Type = Non-ECC, Form Factor = SODIMM, Pin Count = 262-Pin, PC Speed = PC5-44800, Voltage = 1.1V, Rank And Configuration = 1Rx8
- Worldwide: the license is not limited to a single country.
- Non-exclusive: Netlist retains the ability to license its patents to others.
- Non-transferable and non-sublicensable: Micron cannot transfer the license or grant sublicenses under it.
What happens to the pending proceedings
The Settlement and Release Agreement releases the pending proceedings identified in the agreement. That language should not be read as proof that every possible dispute between the companies is resolved. Reuters reported a separate Netlist complaint at the International Trade Commission filed in September 2026; the reviewed SEC filing does not establish the status or disposition of every matter involving Micron and Netlist.
The separate Netlist share purchase
The Form 8-K discloses a separate transaction: Micron purchased 10 million Netlist common shares for $1 million. The shares are subject to a lock-up, with portions scheduled to be released over five years. The filing said the purchase was to close on or before October 6, 2026; it does not separately confirm in the reviewed material that closing occurred. The $1 million share purchase is distinct from, and not included in, the $600 million in scheduled license fees.
Rank #2
- Boosts System Performance: 32GB DDR5 overclocking desktop memory RAM kit (2x16GB) that operates at 6000MHz to improve gaming, multitasking and system responsiveness for smoother performance
- Accelerated gaming performance: Every millisecond gained in fast-paced gameplay counts—benefit from lower latency for higher frame rates, perfect for AAA games
- Optimized DDR5 compatibility: Compatible 13th gen intel core CPUs or newer AMD Ryzen 9000 series CPus
- Trusted Micron Quality: Backed by 42 years of memory expertise, this DDR5 RAM is rigorously tested at both component and module levels, ensuring top performance and reliability
- Top-Tier Overclocking: 32GB of DDR5 RAM 32GB, 6000MHz at extended timings of 36-38-38-80 provide stable overclocking performance and lower latency compared to usual Crucial Pro Series DRAM modules
How this differs from the 2024 jury verdict
Micron’s 2026 third-quarter Form 10-Q recounts a May 2024 jury verdict in the earlier Eastern District of Texas cases. The jury found infringement of two patents and set damages at $425 million for one patent and $20 million for another, a combined $445 million. Micron also reported that the USPTO found the asserted claims unpatentable in final written decisions and described appeals. The $445 million is the amount set by that earlier jury verdict—not the amount of this settlement, and not evidence of a final, collected judgment.
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What the announcement says about the deal
Netlist CEO C.K. Hong said, “The agreement with Micron further validates the value of our AI memory technologies.” The company’s announcement also said it remained committed to protecting its intellectual property while investing in next-generation products. These are Netlist’s statements about the agreement, not independent assessments of the patents’ value.
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